“Beyond the Classroom," at the Figge Art Museum -- through September 3.
Through Sunday, September 3
Community Reception and Opening Celebration: Thursday, June 8, 5 p.m.
Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport IA
While art teachers dedicate their lives to supporting their students as artists, the Figge Art Museum is flipping the script and giving Quad-City area instructors their turn in the spotlight through the Beyond the Classroom exhibition, on display at the Davenport venue through September 3.
Beyond the Classroom includes artwork created by teachers holding at least a part-time teaching position in a K-12 classroom in districts located within a 45-mile radius of the Davenport museum. Submissions were sent in earlier this spring by 31 local teachers from more than 25 different schools in the Quau Cities area, and a total of 54 works in all different art mediums will consequently be on view in the second-floor Mary Waterman Gildehaus Gallery. Artworks featuring oil, acrylic, watercolor, collage, ceramics, sculpture, photography, digital artwork, charcoal, pastel, colored pencil, and more will provide a snapshot of the extraordinary artistic talent of local educators.
Pleasant Valley art teacher Emma Hubner has two works in the exhibition, and said, "I think it’s wonderful that the Figge is hosting this opportunity for teachers. As art teachers, we teach creativity and encourage students to learn to appreciate culture. I am excited to showcase my work as an artist who teaches because it shows how my students push me to improve my own learning and skills.”
The Beyond the Classroom exhibition first debuted in 2013 and is supported by the Brand Boeshaar Foundation Fund. The 2023 installment boasts the same concept as the original did a decade ago, and features new selections for the community to experience first-hand. “It isn’t often teachers get their time to shine, but this exhibition does just that,” said Gallery Interpretation and Engagement Coordinator Heather Aaronson. “We applaud and recognize the teaching artists whose works are included and hope that their creative achievements inspire not only their students, but the entire community.”
Sponsored by Chris and Mary Rayburn, a community reception for the Beyond the Classroom exhibition will take place on June 8 at 5 p.m., with the official opening celebration beginning that evening at 6 p.m., and the exhibit itself will be on display through September 3. Regular museum hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays (10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays) and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, museum admission is $4-10, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7804 and visiting FiggeArtMuseum.org.
